Microsoft Outlook is a powerful email and personal information management tool, but to keep your mailbox organized and prevent it from becoming unwieldy, you might need to create new PST (Personal Storage Table) files. PST files are like containers that help you manage your email data efficiently.
These files can also be used as a backup if case the Outlook gets corrupt or becomes inaccessible at any point of time. Although, creating a new Outlook PST file without Outlook is quite complex, it is way easier to create it using Outlook itself. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a new PST file in Outlook, whether you want to archive your emails or simply keep your mailbox well-organized.
Why is the Need to Create a New PST File?
Before we dive into the ‘how,’ let’s briefly explore the ‘why.’ There are several good reasons to create a new PST file in Outlook and some of them are:
- Email Management: Over time, your mailbox can become cluttered with old emails, making it harder to find important messages. Creating a new PST file allows you to archive and organize emails better.
- Data Backup: PST files serve as a backup, ensuring that your email data remains safe and accessible even if your main mailbox encounters issues.
- Separation of Data: If you have multiple email accounts or work-related and personal emails, you can create separate PST files to keep them distinct and manageable.
How to Create a New PST File in Outlook?
Creating a new PST file in your existing Outlook profile is a piece of cake. You can easily do it by following these steps to create a new PST file in Microsoft Outlook:
Step 1: Firstly, open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
Step 2: Next, go to the file tab and click on the “File” present in the top-left corner of the Outlook screen.
Step 3: Now under “Info,” click on “Account Settings” and again select the “Account Settings” from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: After this, in the “Account Settings” window, click on the “Data Files” tab.
Step 5: Here you need to click on the “Add” button. This will open the “New Outlook Data File” window.
Step 6: Next, choose “Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst)” and click “OK.”
Step 7: In the “Create or Open Outlook Data File” window, choose a location on your computer where you want to save the PST file.
You can also give your PST file a name in the “File name” section.
Step 8: If you want to secure your PST file with a password, you can set one in this step. However, this is an optional thing.
Step 9: After defining the settings, click “OK” and the app will create the new PST file.
Step 10: Next; you’ll be prompted to set a display name for the new PST file. This name will appear in your Outlook folder list.
Step 11: Click “OK” again, and your new PST file will be created.
Once the new PST is created you can use it as per your requirements. However, if you want to create PST file without using MS Outlook then you might need a paid file conversion tool which can export the data into a new PST file.
How to use Your New PST File?
Now that you’ve created a new PST file, you can use it to manage your emails and data efficiently:
- To move emails into your new PST file, simply drag and drop them from your mailbox to the PST file’s folder.
- You can also set up rules in Outlook to automatically move specific emails to your new PST file.
- Remember to back up your PST files regularly to ensure you don’t lose any important data.
Creating new PST files in Outlook is a useful way to manage your email data effectively, whether it’s for archiving, backup, or organization. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can make the most of Outlook’s capabilities and keep your email communications streamlined and clutter-free.
